Elected Officials Break Ground On Historic Central Islip Sewer Project

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Suffolk officials broke ground on a long-awaited, $12 million project on Thursday, which will connect the Central Islip business district to the Suffolk County Sewer system.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter were joined by community leaders and elected officials, announcing the plan at the corner of Carleton Avenue and Brightside Avenue in Central Islip.

The project is part of the Town of Islip's award-winning Central Islip Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which was awarded a $10 million grant by New York State to fund revitalization projects in the community in 2018.

Despite its proximity to the Central Islip train station, mixed-use and transit-oriented development opportunities in downtown Central Islip have been limited by the lack of sewer infrastructure, a release said.

The $12 million sewer project will connect 64 parcels in Central Islip’s central business district along Carleton Avenue, between Suffolk Avenue and Smith Street. Funding for the project includes State, and Federal grants, and construction is expected to take 18 months.

Providing access to the sewer system is a critically important part of transforming this downtown corridor into a mixed-use district, officials said.

“This historic project is a result of community-based planning and strong local leadership by our partners in the Town of Islip,” said Bellone. “I am pleased that the County is able to play an important role in supporting the efforts of Supervisor Carpenter, the Town Board and community leaders in fulfilling a new vision for Central Islip.”

Supervisor Carpenter said that the Town is grateful to Bellone for assisting in securing the additional funding needed to bring this project to fruition.

A $2 million portion of the $10 million DRI grant that the Town was awarded by the New York State Department of State in 2018 will be used to fund the sewer project. Additional grant funds were obtained from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning's Jumpstart program.

"This essential system in downtown Central Islip will eliminate current limitations to the area’s development, and will promote mixed-uses along the corridor while laying the foundation for future investment," said Carpenter. "After the unanticipated COVID-related delays, it’s wonderful to finally see this project move forward, with no construction cost burden onto the property owners."